Live Science reports on UB research that a breast milk protein may reverse antibiotic resistance

A story on Live Science reports a team of UB researchers
has found a protein in breast milk that may make surface infections
by the resistant bacteria MRSA more sensitive to attack by
antibiotics. The team added a protein complex, called HAMLET,
purified from human milk, to aggressive strains of
antibiotic-resistant bacteria and found that the bacteria were more
responsive to antibiotics when they were used in combination with
HAMLET. “It sensitizes the bacteria to the antibiotics that
they used to be resistant to, so suddenly you can use the old
[antibiotics] again,” said Anders Hakansson, assistant
professor of microbiology and immunology. Stories on the
research also appeared on news outlets around the world, including
Voice of America, MSN News,Yahoo! News,
RTT News, Inside Science and French
Tribune.